General Motors Recalls 2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8L Turbo

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File this one under the category of owner stupidity if you wish: General Motors is recalling 547 new Cadillac SRX vehicles equipped with the 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 to address possible engine failure caused by owner error. The potential engine failure can occur when the stupid owner fills the SRX with regular gas – instead of the required premium – and proceeds to drive the vehicle aggressively.

According to the NHTSA, the combination of regular fuel and aggressive driving can cause pre-ignition that leads to pinging or knocking in the engine as well as the potential for a connecting rod or piston to break, resulting in engine failure and damage.

The fix for this rather serious problem is fairly simple: your friendly Caddy dealer will simply reprogram the engine control module.

The GM Authority Take

Now, we understand that not all owners fuel their vehicles with the recommended (premium) fuel. In fact, we’ve even heard owners of vehicles that require premium fuel tell that “it doesn’t matter what type of gas I use,” with a few smartalecs finishing the sentence with something along the lines of “it’s all a scam anyway.” If you’re a real car guy, you know where we stand on this issue.

But in all fairness to the owner, a vehicle requiring premium fuel such as a Cadillac should be smart enough to detect the lower-grade fuel running through its veins and automatically degrade the powertrain’s performance to avoid engine damage (and the breaking connecting of a connecting rod or piston). Do you agree, or are we wishing too much here? Let us know in the comments!